Tent Revival service brings God to residents

Two years ago Jennifer Cornelison was in a “dark place.” Battling a drug addiction that had consumed most of her life, she was looking for a way out. She found a way out in the unlikeliest of places, under the bright lights of a big circus tent. On Friday night Cornelison was back under that same tent, letting the words of evangelist Robert Newton wash over her, during the 2017 Newton Tent Crusade.

“This has been life changing for me and my kids,” Cornelison said. “I was addicted to drugs, I fought it for a lot of years.”

James Miller has known the evangelist for years, and since the first time he heard him speak, he’s wanted him to bring his message to Newton. After looking around to find a place to put up the tent without any luck he realized one morning that the answer had been staring him in the face for a long time.

As Miller stood in the parking lot of his business, Integrity Cleaning and Restoration, located at 402 First Ave. E., he found the answer he’d been looking for. His parking lot had enough room to set up the tent.

“Sometimes the answer is just right in front of your face,” Miller said.

Miller’s hope is that bringing Newton in will bring hope to the community, and give residents a chance to connect with one another. A lifelong resident of Newton Miller knows his hometown needs help.

“I believe that Newton needs hope,” Miller said. “I want to shine a light in the dark areas.”

Tent revival services used to be a fixture in towns like Newton a hundred years ago. The flyers would go up, and then the tent, filled to the brim with the faithful. They’re mostly gone now, but that isn’t stopping Robert Newton, the man behind the tent crusade. Newton’s battled his own demons, fighting his way through drug addiction and he’s determined to show others how they can do the same thing.

“Christ totally changed my life,” Newton said. “We’re taking the gospel outside of the church, we go all over America.”

He’s on the road more than 300 days a year, pumping out his message about God’s love to anyone who’ll listen. This year alone he’s set up his tent in 7 different states, and he’s constantly on the lookout for new avenues. The tent he raised with volunteers on Thursday is the fourth tent in the last eight years, he’d worn through each previous tent.

Newton knows he’s making an impact, he can see the hope he brings to people under the tent. He’s gambling that shaking things up will pull in people like Cornelison, people who are looking for a different experience than the traditional brick and mortar church with uncomfortable wooden pews. On Friday night, as volunteers hand out hot dogs and slices of still-hot apple pie Newton wants to talk about community, and bringing hope to people who need it the most.

“People need something beyond their ability to change their lives, the gospel does that,” Newton said.

Cornelison couldn’t agree more. That encouragement that she received two years ago was enough for her to kick her drug habit, something she’d been unable to do on her own. Now, as she sat with her daughter Sierra under the purple and white tent waiting for the service to start, she’s here to address a new need.

“I’ve been struggling with trying to get healthy and quit smoking,” Cornelison said. “I’m hoping to find the Holy Spirit here tonight, and find the guidance to go in the right direction.”

Contact David Dolmage at
641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or
ddolmage@newtondailynews.com